Future of Work (FOW)

Overview

<p>The severe consequences of the Covid19-pandemic, including its economic disruptions, and the recent mass protests to combat systemic racial inequality in policing and other institutions have reaffirmed the importance of social science research examining economic, political, racial, ethnic, generational, and social inequalities relevant to public policy and social change. RSF encourages proposals that analyze any of these issues on topics of interest under our Future of Work program. To view Covid-19 Priorities, visit <a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…; <p>The Russell Sage Foundation’s program on the Future of Work supports innovative research on the causes and consequences of changes in the quality of jobs for less- and moderately skilled workers and their families. We seek investigator-initiated research proposals that will broaden our understanding of the role of changes in employer practices, the nature of the labor market and public policies on employment, earnings, and job quality. We are especially interested in proposals that address questions about the interplay of market and non-market forces in shaping the wellbeing of workers, today and in the future.</p> <p>The kinds of topics and questions of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:</p> <ul> <li>Causes and Consequences of Job Polarization</li> <li>Alternative Work Arrangements</li> <li>The Changing Legal Environment</li> <li>Emerging Technologies and the Future of Work</li> <li>Workforce Development and Training</li> <li>Changing Economies, Changing Families and Policy Responses</li> </ul> <p>Links to Other Foundation Priorities<br>RSF has a strong interest in projects using computational social science, particularly how digital, large and complex data and computational methods can further our understanding of the causes and consequences of changes in job quality, especially for low-wage workers. We are particularly interested in analyses that make use of newly available data or demonstrate novel uses of existing data. We also support original data collection. Proposals to conduct field experiments, in-depth qualitative interviews, and ethnographies are also encouraged.</p> <p>__________________<br>RSF is especially interested in research on the social, political, economic, and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (<a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…;). RSF will also accept LOIs relevant to any of its core programs that address at least one of the following issues:</p> <ol> <li>Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S. Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behaviors. RSF seldom supports studies focused on outcomes such as educational processes or curricular issues, but does prioritize analyses of inequities in educational attainment or student performance.</li> <li>Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S. Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.</li> </ol> <p>RSF will accept research proposals related to the effects of the pandemic in all programs and special initiatives: Behavioral Economics; Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context; Future of Work; Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration; Social, Political, and Economic Inequality. The following topics include research issues of interest to our core programs but do not comprise an exhaustive list.</p> <ul> <li>Effects on the Economy, Workers and Inequalities</li> <li>Effects on Politics and Political Behavior</li> <li>Effects on Immigrants and Racial and Ethnic Minorities</li> <li>The Social Fabric and Psychological Effects</li> </ul>